Youth get life term for having literature against state

In a rare judgement, a local court in Punjab’s Nawanshahr has sentenced three Sikh youth to life imprisonment for waging war against the state primarily following recovery of incriminating literature, books, pamphlets etc.

No ammunition was found on them, nor they were charged with an act of violence. The three Sikh youth, Surjit Singh (27), Arwinder Singh (29) and Ranjit Singh (29) were charged based on books, literature, pamphlets that were recovered from them and kept for propaganda to incite people to establish a separate state of Khalistan. Experts say this is rare judgement where sentencing has been primarily based on recovery of incriminating literature and not for an act of violence.

The court in its order said that ‘from the material on record, common intention and object which brought the accused together, could be easily gathered from the documentary evidence such as books, literature, pamphlets seized from them’. The order read, “To achieve their object regarding establishment of Khalistan on Baisakhi, they have kept the aforesaid material with them with the intention of using same for propaganda to incite people to resort to violence with the objective of waging war against the Government of India, to establish an independent state/nation by the name of Khalistan”.

The order by the judge said that the accused ‘stealthily declared war against India and conspired to overawe the Government of India, thus, disturbing the normal tranquillity of a civilized society”.

Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate Mohit Garg talking to DH said the judgment was rare given that the sentencing for waging a war against the state was based on recovery of incriminating literature, books etc. and not for an act of violence. The youth have been awarded life imprisonment and fine under Section 121 of IPC for waging or attempting to wage war against the government and for conspiracy for war.